Kent Bush: Don't we have enough real holidays

Friday

May 3, 2013 at 2:30 PMMay 3, 2013 at 2:32 PM

I don't understand why so many faux holidays have landed in the month of May.

Kent Bush

I don't understand why so many faux holidays have landed in the month of May. Is Mother's Day not enough reason to celebrate? Most high school and college graduations also fall in May. So why do we need these bogus special days to celebrate this month.The month started with May Day. Some celebrate spring. Some recognize workers' rights. In reality, I think it is celebrated mainly because May rhymes with day and it feels like we should do something to recognize it.The most ridiculous day that seems to grow in popularity each year is Star Wars Day on May 4. "May the Fourth be with you." Get it? Replace "force" with "fourth" and it sounds like something they said in Star Wars.Really? Is that all it takes for you to let your nerd flags fly? Put your 1:20 scale replica of the Millennium Falcon back in the garage. No one wants to see that.At least this make-believe holiday doesn't include going to a bar and getting liquored up. That is reserved for the next day. Cinco de Mayo is every American's favorite Mexican holiday – aside from Taco Tuesday.My favorite Cinco de Mayo story came from a department head meeting at a paper where I was the editor. Our publisher asked what day Cinco de Mayo was on this year.We were almost sure he meant what day of the week – almost.Contrary to the most popular, margarita-soaked opinions, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day. That is September 16th. I guess Sixteeno de Septembero didn't have the same ring to it.Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of the Mexican army's defeat of French forces in the Battle of Puebla.Apparently, was a big deal to the Mexican people at the time.However, their victory didn't last. The French took back over and ruled Mexico for three more years. So why do Americans go to Mexican restaurants on Cinco de Mayo? Basically for the same reason that they go to Irish pubs on St. Patrick's Day. Americans like a good party.But we did help the Mexicans get rid of the French once and for all. After we finished killing each other in the Civil War, America focused on helping Mexican rebels drive out the French and get all European influences out of North America.If that isn't a good enough reason to order a second plate of nachos, I don't know what is.Memorial Day brings May to a close with another truly special day. We honor men and women who served in the armed forces and died and we even honor loved ones who have passed away.With several great holidays in May, it is hard to understand why we have to force things like "Dance Like a Chicken Day," "Escargot Day," and "Water a Flower Day" in there to make the month more special.

Kent Bush is the publisher of the Augusta Gazette, the El Dorado Times, and the Andover American newspapers. He can be contacted at: kbush@augustagazette.com